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West Seattle Crime Watch: Package prowlers; rack ripoff; more

Three reader reports in West Seattle Crime Watch tonight, starting with this one just out of the inbox – Ellie has a warning about package prowlers east of The Junction:

We live on 39th and Oregon and discovered torn-open UPS packages in our front yard this evening, about 9:30 pm. They had not been there a few hours prior. The shipping labels were still intact, so we took the empty boxes and a packing slip that was found further down the sidewalk back to the house the packages were addressed to and gave them to the people who had been expecting their items to arrive safely. Please put a crime watch notice about this on the blog so people in this area can be on the lookout for package prowlers.

This morning, Scott e-mailed word of a theft:

We live on 49th SW between Admiral and Charlestown. Woke up this morning to discover someone took my Yakima roof rack and one bike carrier and fairing. I thought it was locked down but apparently it wasn’t or they broke the locks. The rack and bike carrier were both pretty old and can’t be worth much but I guess desperate people aren’t always rational people. Looking at the crime report on WSB I see there was at least one other vehicle accessory theft last night in the vicinity. Lesson of the day, please lock your cars and make sure accessories are locked down.

And Josh‘s car was prowled near Lincoln Park over the weekend:

I just wanted to let you know that our car was rummaged through (Saturday) night. We live on Kenyon Place by Lincoln Park on a dead-end street. Unfortunately, we forgot to lock the door and they rummaged through and stole our iPod and charger. They left everything else and didn’t do any damage, so that’s a plus.

P.S. Five weeks till this year’s Night Out on Tuesday, August 6th – plan a block party with your neighbors to show solidarity against crime. Register here.

Check craigslist for your rack, I’ve heard that rack thefts often end up there since used racks still fetch a pretty penny. It’s why I always end up buying rack attachments brand new when they’re on sale at REI because it’s nearly the same price as CL.

About a week ago my car was rummaged through too. I live in the North Delridge area. Thought I locked it but I didn’t. Only took the garage door remote which was probably the least expensive thing in there (probably the only time I’ve ever left it in there too). Obviously thought that they might come back and get in the house.

Our car (up the hill from lincoln park, near Othello) was rummaged through with a GPS and jacket stolen about 3 weeks ago. Reported it to the police so they knew, but felt stupid as we had also left it unlocked. Learned our lesson but still upsetting.

I live just off of Thistle up from Lincoln park, left my passenger door unlocked and someone rummaged through my car and stole a cell charger, spare change and my discovery pass, can’t believe I forgot to lock my door.

Several years ago we had our entire roof rack ripped off our car in the Alki area. It was more than ten years old, but I guess they like the Yakima brand. They took a pry bar and damaged the roof to get it off. Junkies suck.

Last night 7/1 I caught a young man, probably 13 years old rummaging through my car on my property. He was about 5’3″, African American with a longer afro wearing a baseball cap on the back of his head. When I confronted him he said it was his car. I told him we called 911 and he ran off the property west up Holden St. towards 24th Ave. SW. The police came by to investigate. He pulled everything out of the console and glove compartment, but there wasn’t anything of real value in the car.

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